Elves Brener Responds to Adversity, Marches Toward UFC Fight Night 231 Assignment

A fé na vitória tem que ser inabalável! 🚀#chuteboxe #ufcbr #jiujitsu #mma #Wrestler pic.twitter.com/jdiTOh4Prx

— Elves brener Oliveira dos Santos (@ElvesBrener) September 25, 2023

Elves Brener stood at a crossroads as he entered his 2021 campaign on the heels of two straight setbacks, the world still reeling from the worst pandemic in more than a century. He has not lost since.

The 26-year-old Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight will put his newfound momentum to the test when he faces Esteban Ribovics in the featured UFC Fight Night 231 prelim on Nov. 4 at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Brener still cites the consecutive defeats to Sergei Andreev in November 2019 and Gabriel Santos in October 2020 as a turning point in his career.

“The two back-to-back losses earlier in my career were indeed a very difficult period for me,” he told Sherdog.com, “but they were part of my growth. It was very important for me to spend this time becoming more mature and putting in more hours at the gym. It’s what raised my game and toughened me up. The goal is to continue evolving, always tougher and stronger. That’s going to get me to the top.”

Brener steps up for his latest assignment on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. He made his promotional debut in February with a split decision over Zubaira Tukhugov, then backed it up on July 1 with a third-round technical knockout of Guram Kutateladze at UFC on ESPN 48. The showdown with Kutateladze resulted in $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonuses for both men.

“My fight in July was a true battle,” Brener said. “I stated beforehand that I was ready for that. Ultimately, by working hard and taking things one step at a time, everything works out in the end.”

Ribovics, 27, poses some unique challenges as one of South America’s top prospects. The once-beaten 27-year-old Argentinian sports 11 finishes among his 12 professional victories, including three of the sub-minute variety. Ribovics bounced back from a March loss to Loik Radzhabov with a unanimous decision over Kamuela Kirk at UFC 290 on July 8.

“Esteban is very tough,” Brener said. “It’s what we always expect in this weight class. I’m happy with this matchup. You can be sure I’m ready to put on another show. Sparks are going to fly.”

As has been his custom, Brener operated out of the Diego Lima-led Chute Boxe affiliate ahead of his looming confrontation with Ribovics. He draws confidence from the camp-wide philosophy and approach.

“We always look to focus on our strengths,” Brener said. “This game demands that we always keep getting better. That’s what makes it crazy. We keep doing what we’re good at. We watch our opponents’ videos to come up with the best strategy, and once we’re in the cage, it’s a matter of being aggressive and looking for the win the entire time.”

Brener never has to look far for purpose when he straps on the gloves.

“I fight for my family, for my daughter and son,” he said. “It’s extra motivation to bring a victory home. I’ll be aggressively chasing a knockout or submission. It’s what the fans can expect.”